KUWAIT: With the
increasing number of nurseries that have reached over 680, a new department of
the ministry of social affairs will be formed soon to manage the affairs of
nurseries in Kuwait. For this purpose, a ministry decree was issued recently to
form this department with enough staff for supervision.

Hanaa Al-Hajery,
Deputy Undersecretary of Social Development and Secretary General of the
Supreme Council of Family Affairs, explained that the Ministry of Social
Affairs (MSA) has stopped issuing new licenses for nurseries until the new
department is ready to operate. "The decree was issued and was approved by
the Civil Service Commission. There are still some technical procedures that
have to be done at the ministry, including setting the number of employees in
the department, their degrees and so on," she told Kuwait Times.

Previously, the
Cabinet had decided to move the supervision of the nurseries to the ministry of
education from the MSA, but this decision was canceled. "Due to the young
age of children attending the nurseries, it was decided that nurseries be
supervised by the MSA. Previously, the mother and childhood department was in
charge and now the new department will replace it," added Hajery.

The child's
rights law issued by MSA mandates inspection of nurseries. "The law also
specifies sanctions against violators, aiming to protect the child in
educational, cultural and other aspects. It also deals with violence against
children. Therefore, we need more staff to supervise and inspect the huge
number of nurseries. For this purpose, the new department was formed including
inspections, issuance of licenses, legal matters and others," she
explained.

"There are
many unlicensed nurseries, and it is the responsibility of MSA along with other
authorities to inspect them. Also, new rules will be added or changed when
issuing a new license for a nursery," concluded Hajery.

By Nawara
Fattahova